Elon Musk Is Trying to Be the MrBeast of Politics

When I ideate the aboriginal of American authorities I spot Elon Musk’s grinning look arsenic helium gives distant a cardinal bucks connected signifier earlier a assemblage of clapping people. Musk is approaching authorities the mode a YouTuber similar MrBeast approaches assemblage engagement. Both men are giving distant immense currency prizes to get radical to tune in, and they’re ignoring the legality and consequences of their actions.

Over the weekend, Musk handed retired oversized novelty $1 cardinal checks to 2 voters successful Pennsylvania. During a ceremonial filmed and broadcast connected X, the billionaire gave distant the currency to voters who signed a petition he’s peddling successful enactment of the constitution.

John Dreher, the archetypal million-dollar winner, is simply a self-professed immense Musk fan. “Actually gathering Elon, I benignant of forgot astir the wealth for a small bit,” Dreher said in a video connected X. “He’s specified an influential fig for guys my property who are moving hard each day.”

“When helium came connected signifier it was truthful exciting,” Kristine Fishell, the 2nd million-dollar winner, said successful her ain video connected X. “He did the leap similar helium did astatine the Butler rally, it was conscionable truly amusive to see.”

The videos are striking due to the fact that they consciousness much similar amusement than politics. In America, the 2 person agelong gone manus successful hand, but Musk giving distant currency prizes to registered voters and making them beryllium down to movie testimonials afterward feels similar a generational shift. These are the kinds of videos that would acceptable good connected the provender of a YouTuber similar MrBeast who gives distant immense currency prizes for radical who vie successful games wherever they endure and humiliate themselves.

These 2 Pennsylvania residents received $1 cardinal each from Elon Musk for signing a petition successful enactment of the First and Second Amendments! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/eef2a8C9ht

— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) October 20, 2024

Musk has been heavy progressive successful the U.S. statesmanlike predetermination since the attempted assassination of Trump successful July. He started a pro-Trump ace PAC and injected $75 million of his ain cash, repeatedly posted his enactment for Trump online, and appeared with the campaigner astatine a rally successful Butler, Pennsylvania.

But the billionaire’s latest strategy whitethorn interruption run concern law. He’s giving 1 fortunate elector successful a plaything authorities who signs his petition $1 cardinal per day, each day, until the election. What’s the petition? It’s simple. “The First and Second Amendments warrant state of code and the close to carnivore arms. By signing below, I americium pledging my enactment for the First and Second Amendments,” it says.

Any registered elector who signs connected the dotted enactment gets $47 bucks and is entered for a accidental to triumph the $1 million. The currency is lone disposable to immoderate voters. “This programme is exclusively unfastened to registered voters successful Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Expires October 21,” the petition says.

If you’re wondering if this is legal, you’re not alone. On Sunday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called retired Musk’s scheme connected Meet the Press. “Musk evidently has a close to beryllium capable to explicit his views. He’s made it very, precise wide that helium supports Donald Trump. I don’t. Obviously we person a quality of opinion,” Shapiro said. “I don’t contradict him that, right, but erstwhile you commencement flowing this benignant of wealth into politics, I deliberation it raises superior questions.”

Rick Hansen, a ineligible student astatine the UCLA School of Law, called retired Musk’s giveaway connected his Election Law Blog. Hansen’s view? “This 1 is intelligibly illegal,” Hansen said of the $1 cardinal giveaway.

Hansen pointed to conception 52 U.S.C. 10307(c) of U.S. predetermination instrumentality and leafage 44 of the Justice Department’s Election Crimes Manual. “For an connection oregon a outgo to interruption Section 10307(c), it indispensable person been intended to induce oregon reward the elector for engaging successful 1 oregon much acts indispensable to formed a ballot,” the manual said.

The substance isn’t clear-cut. The wealth and prizes are for signing a petition, but the petition is thinly veiled and covered successful connection astir registered voters. In their videos, some Fishell and Dreher emphasized the value of voting and voting early. It’s wide to anyone watching that the currency prizes aren’t conscionable rewards for the petition, but monetary incentives to get retired the vote.

What volition travel of this? Will Musk beryllium prosecuted? I deliberation that volition mostly beryllium connected the result of the Presidential election. But 1 happening I cognize for sure: the aboriginal of American authorities volition person much MrBeast-style stunts.